|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 28, 2021 15:26:47 GMT -5
I'll be damed Ray out for the 6th
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 28, 2021 15:28:11 GMT -5
Verdugo robbed by Guierriel dude has been solid in LF today
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 28, 2021 15:31:00 GMT -5
Robbie Ray with an easy 6th
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 28, 2021 15:33:43 GMT -5
Cora waving the white flag Workman on the mound in 7th
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 28, 2021 15:39:59 GMT -5
Romano coming in for the Jays in the 7th
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 28, 2021 15:42:57 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 11m Ray strikes out Dalbec to end the 6th. 8 strikeouts and 20 swings/misses for Ray over six innings.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 28, 2021 15:49:35 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 28, 2021 16:12:54 GMT -5
Garrett Richards hit hard as Boston Red Sox lose, 4-1, in Game 1 of doubleheader vs. Blue Jays Updated 5:05 PM; Today 4:48 PM Red Sox
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Richards looks down at a fresh baseball after giving up a two-run home run to Toronto Blue Jays' Randal Grichuk in the fourth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, Wednesday, July 28, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)AP By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
BOSTON -- Garrett Richards might not keep his turn in the Red Sox’ rotation for much longer.
Richards allowed four runs -- including two homers -- on eight hits and was unable to record an out in the fifth inning Wednesday afternoon as the Sox dropped the first game of a doubleheader, 4-1, to the Blue Jays. Richards now owns a 6.39 ERA in five starts against Toronto this season and a 7.18 ERA in his last nine outings.
The Red Sox struck first in the seven-inning affair, as J.D. Martinez grounded out to drive in Kiké Hernández and put Boston up, 1-0, in the first. The Jays answered with a run on a Randal Grichuk RBI single that deflected off Richards a half-inning later.
In the bottom of the second, the Sox’ put together one of their most disappointing offensive innings of the season. Alex Verdugo singled, Kevin Plawecki hit a ground-rule double and Bobby Dalbec walked to load the bases with no outs, but Jays starter Robbie Ray responded by striking out Michael Chavis and Hernández and then getting Rafael Devers to fly out to escape unscathed.
In the fourth, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. ripped a double off the Green Monster before Grichuk took Richards deep to dead center to put the Jays up, 3-1. An inning later, George Springer hit a line drive home run over the Monster to make it 4-1.
In total, Toronto hit seven balls harder than 100 mph off Richards, who struggled with fastball command throughout his outing. Boston mustered just five hits off Ray, who struck out eight batters in six strong innings.
The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for the Red Sox, who are now 62-40.
Houck on tap for Game 2
Righty Tanner Houck (0-2, 2.50 ERA) will start Game 2 for the Red Sox with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. Lefty Steven Matz (8-5, 4.34 ERA) is on the hill for Toronto.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 28, 2021 16:18:01 GMT -5
Richards was shit per normal but Red Sox left 5 batters in scoring position in game one
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 28, 2021 16:39:05 GMT -5
Game 2 Matz vs Houk get your shit together Blue Jays1. George Springer (R) CF 2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (R) DH 3. Marcus Semien (R) 2B 4. Bo Bichette (R) SS 5. Teoscar Hernandez (R) LF 6. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (R) 1B 7. Randal Grichuk (R) RF 8. Santiago Espinal (R) 3B 9. Reese McGuire (L) C Red Sox
1. Enrique Hernandez (R) 2B 2. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 3. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS 4. J.D. Martinez (R) DH 5. Hunter Renfroe (R) RF 6. Alex Verdugo (L) LF 7. Kevin Plawecki (R) C 8. Bobby Dalbec (R) 1B 9. Jarren Duran (L) CF Song for the 2nd game of the Double Dip U2- "Kite" www.youtube.com/watch?v=0D8z_YSJqhw
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 29, 2021 2:49:38 GMT -5
Missed opportunities abound as Sox drop G1 July 28th, 2021 Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
1 second remaining
BOSTON -- The sun was not only shining brightly at Fenway Park early in Game 1 of Wednesday’s day-night doubleheader, but it also seemed to be shining on the Red Sox.
In the second inning, Boston had the bases loaded and seemed ready to jump out quickly with a crooked number. But in the Red Sox’s eventual 4-1 loss, that big missed opportunity was something that proved to be irrecoverable.
Michael Chavis struck out on four pitches. Kiké Hernández worked a much better at-bat, battling for eight pitches, but he went down swinging on a 92.8 mph fastball by Blue Jays starter Robbie Ray.
Then it was up to Rafael Devers, the most dangerous hitter for the Sox in 2021. The drama built as Devers worked the count full. And the fans stood when the slugger hammered one to center field at an exit velocity of 104.9 mph. However, he got under it just enough (launch angle of 34 degrees) for it to be a 379-foot flyout to the warning track, rather than a homer or a bases-clearing double.
“We had the bases loaded and no outs. We didn’t put the ball in play and we don’t score,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “We had a chance to put them away and we did not. He’s a good pitcher. He made some adjustments. He used the changeup more than usual. There was traffic, but I think that [second inning], we didn’t cash in. Offensively, that was it.”
Of the 16 times the Red Sox have had the bases loaded with nobody out this season, that was the second time they didn’t come away with at least one run.
There were a couple of other missed opportunities that rubbed some salt in the wound. In the first, the Sox had runners on first and second with nobody out and managed only one run on a fielder’s-choice RBI by J.D. Martinez.
After Devers got a gift double when Randal Grichuk and George Springer lost his fly ball in the sun and Martinez followed with a bloop single, the Sox had men on the corners and one out. Again, it was a squander, with Hunter Renfroe and Christian Vázquez both striking out to end the frame.
“We have to make adjustments. We’re going to face a lot of lefties this week,” said Cora. “Overall, we’re good against lefties. We’re not great. So some of these guys, they have to step up, put up good at-bats and help us win ballgames.”
On a day Garrett Richards (four runs on eight hits in four-plus innings) was once again decent but not great, the Red Sox simply couldn’t overcome so many missed opportunities on offense.
“Threw some good ones, threw some bad ones,” said Richards. “Right now, I just seem to get beat hard on my mistakes. You know, just continuing to fine-tune some stuff. Threw a lot of strikes today, had really good stuff, just couldn’t keep any runs off the board.”
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 29, 2021 2:51:53 GMT -5
Duran shows off wheels, helps Sox split DH 12:39 AM ADT Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
BOSTON -- As soon as the ball smacked off Jarren Duran’s bat and headed toward the gap in right-center, everyone in the Red Sox dugout stopped what they were doing to watch the kid run.
The reaction in the crowd was much the same. All eyes were focused on Duran as he went full-speed ahead for 360 feet.
And this is why many people didn’t initially see the slight bobble by Blue Jays outfielder George Springer off the carom at the base of the garage door in center field that led to the ruling of triple and an error rather than an inside-the-park homer.
Triple? Homer? It didn’t much matter. Duran electrified Fenway Park with his mad dash in Game 2 of Wednesday’s day-night doubleheader, providing the must-watch moment in a 4-1 win by the Red Sox. Boston lost Game 1 by the same score.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora immediately made sure the two people closest to him in the dugout were keeping their eyes in the right place.
“I told [hitting coach] Timmy [Hyers] and [outfielder] Alex [Verdugo], ‘Just look at him,’ because that’s how fast he is,” Cora said. “He’s a game changer. His speed changes the game and that’s what we’re looking for. It’s a weapon and it was fun to watch him run the bases.”
When did Duran first know he might be able to touch them all?
“As soon as I got to third, [third-base coach Carlos Febles] started waving me and I was like, ‘I’m absolutely gassed,’ and I was just hoping I could make it to home without falling,” said Duran.
There would be no fall. Just a head-first dive in which he got his hand down to just beat the throw home. As it turns out, Blue Jays catcher Reese McGuire dropped the ball, so he would have been safe no matter what.
Duran motored around the bases at a sprint speed of 29.3 feet per second, according to Statcast. The league average is 27 feet per second.
“Duran’s a fast guy, let me tell you that. That’s the only way you can score on a ball like that,” said Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo. “But that’s one of those that the third-base coach was pretty aggressive sending him home. It was a close play and we dropped the ball, but it’s one of those that the third-base coach never gets credit. That was a good send by that third-base coach.”
Ranked by MLB Pipeline as Boston's No. 3 prospect, Duran has played just 10 games in his career so far, but he’s already created two moments to remember on the bases.
The first was against the Yankees on Saturday, when Duran hit a grounder to second and Rougned Odor booted it because he was in a rush to combat Duran’s speed. On that occasion, Duran never stopped running and somehow wound up on second base.
But this play on Wednesday night was at another level entirely.
“That was a crazy, crazy play, for sure,” said Red Sox righty Tanner Houck, who went four electric innings (two hits, one run, seven strikeouts) in Game 2. “I’ve always known he was definitely the fastest guy out on the field at every point of the game. Seeing that was truly something I don’t think you’ll see again for a while.” Tanner Houck's seven strikeouts
At the end of the play, Red Sox announcer Dave O’Brien exclaimed to his viewers on NESN, “He was an absolute blur! And an inside-the-parker.”
O’Brien wasn’t the only one to think so, but it wasn’t an easy call for official scorer Chaz Scoggins to make. It was definitely one that could have gone either way.
“I’m not a scorekeeper, I’ll stay away from that,” said Cora.
Duran, who was in an 0-for-12 slide leading up to that at-bat, was just happy to provide a burst of energy for his team.
“I was pumped. I felt like I helped the team do something and it’s always a good moment to contribute to this amazing offense, so I was pumped. Maybe a little too excited, but it happens,” said Duran.
It would have been the second homer of Duran’s career. His first was in Buffalo against the Blue Jays on July 19.
“I’ll take the triple,” said Duran. “I mean, I guess, my laundry-cart ride doesn’t become official until I hit a real home run.”
You get the feeling there are many more mad dashes and laundry-cart rides in Duran’s future.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 29, 2021 2:54:30 GMT -5
Injuries & Moves: Devers (left quad) update 1:29 AM ADT
3B Rafael Devers (left quad tightness) Expected return: Friday Devers left in the sixth inning of the second game in a July 28 doubleheader vs. Toronto. The third baseman appeared to experience discomfort in his quad while rounding the bases after hitting a double in the fourth inning. Manager Alex Cora said Devers had a scheduled off-day on July 29 anyway, and expected the third baseman to return to the lineup on July 30. (Last updated: July 28)
RHP Hirokazu Sawamura (right tricep inflammation) Expected return: Friday The key setup man fired a 1-2-3 first inning for Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday in what should be a one-and-done rehab assignment. Of Sawamura’s 13 pitches against Buffalo, he threw nine strikes and got one strikeout. (Last updated: July 28)
INF Marwin Gonzalez (right hamstring strain) Expected return: First week in August Gonzalez ran the bases at Fenway Park on Monday and Tuesday, and it went well. Cora said that Gonzalez could go on a Minor League rehab assignment this weekend. Gonzalez expressed hope that he will be ready to rejoin the Red Sox in Detroit on Aug. 3 for the second leg of their three-city road trip. (Last updated: July 28)
RHP Ryan Brasier (concussion) Expected return: Some point in '21 Brasier, who has dealt with one health setback after another since Spring Training, is at last building some momentum. The righty has thrown two bullpen sessions at Fenway Park over the last few days and should do another one soon. Given all he has been through -- particularly the concussion he suffered after being belted by a batted ball in early June -- the Red Sox will continue to take every precaution. And there are also other factors to consider.
“I haven't talked to him about it, but how is he going to react to hitters? That’s going to be very important,” said Cora. “Is he going to be able to finish pitches and stay in there. Now, I’ve seen the video once. I don't want to see it again, and it's tough to watch, you know, they're so close to it. There's other elements, not only physical, that he has to go through. And hopefully at one point during the season, he's going to contribute.” (Last updated: July 28)
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 29, 2021 3:20:25 GMT -5
Jarren Duran provides a spark as Red Sox win Game 2 to split doubleheader with Blue Jays By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated July 28, 2021, 4:50 p.m.
It was a moment that will be embedded in the minds of Red Sox fans for some time.
Jarren Duran was on full display in the bottom of the fourth inning of Game 2 of Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Blue Jays at Fenway Park.
Moments like this don’t come around often. If Duran is running and your head is down, you could miss it.
After a screaming line drive in the right-center field gap off Blue Jays starter Steven Matz, we saw what Red Sox scouts have raved about but few fans have witnessed — not like this, at least. It took a brief bobble by Jays center fielder George Springer as the ball ricocheted off the garage gate. It likely wouldn’t have been ruled an error if anyone other than Duran was running. But speed can force mistakes. And Duran has the audacity to think extra bases.
In the Red Sox’ 4-1 win, it was Duran’s near-inside-the-park homer, his triple on an error, that ruled the day.
“I’m just hoping to get on three,” Duran said. “I knew Springer was playing more toward left-center.”
Duran said he was gassed when he started approaching third. That’s when he saw third base coach Carlos Febles waving him in to score.
“I was just hoping I could make it home without falling,” Duran said jokingly.
The Sox were ahead, 2-1, at the time. But Duran’s speed changed that. At one point, it looked as if he would catch Kevin Plawecki, who scored all the way from first.
“Take a look at this kid.” That’s what manager Alex Cora told hitting coach Tim Hyers and Alex Verdugo when Duran made contact. He knew something was going to happen.
Duran is hitting just .172 during his brief time in the majors. But this is the dynamic game-changing speed that the Red Sox were missing and few teams have.
“He’s a game changer,” Cora said. “His speed changes the game, and that’s what we’re looking for as a weapon. And it was fun to watch him run and bases.”
Duran peaked to see where the ball was prior to reaching third base. Despite that, he still maintained top speed, a skill he learned while at Long Beach State.
“In college, we used to preach that we shouldn’t need our third base coach,” Duran said. “It was all about us. We have our head, we can use it as a swivel. We did so much baserunning, and I just kind of developed that skill to be able to look around the whole entire field and continue to run.”
Tanner Houck tossed four innings for the Sox, striking out seven and allowing two hits. His lone run allowed came on a single by Bo Bichette in the fourth.
“I felt really confident with all my pitches today in the bullpen,” Houck said. “It just felt right coming out of the hand early and it continued into the game and the rest was history.”
The Red Sox had their chances in the first game of the day/night doubleheader.
Yet if there was one blown opportunity that highlighted the Red Sox’ 4-1 loss, look no further than the bottom of the second inning.
With the game tied, 1-1, the Sox had Jays starter Robbie Ray on the ropes with the bases loaded and no outs.
Ray, who surrendered four runs in five innings in his previous start against the Red Sox, was vulnerable again. Nevertheless, he would wiggle out of the jam in this one, striking out Michael Chavis and Kiké Hernández, then getting Rafael Devers to fly out to center. Related: Speier: Matt Barnes would welcome a Red Sox reunion with Craig Kimbrel
“We didn’t put the ball in play and we didn’t score,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We got a chance to put them away and we did not. And that’s a good pitcher. There was traffic but I think in that inning, bases loaded, no outs and we didn’t cash in, offensively, that was it.”
The Sox couldn’t muster much offense and were 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position. Cora said Ray kept Sox hitters off-balance by deploying his changeup a bit more. He tossed it 12 times as opposed to just twice in his last start. It drew just two swings and misses, but helped induce 19 whiffs on his four-seam fastball/slider combo — 12 of which came on his four-seamer.
Garrett Richards (6-6) took the loss, allowing four runs on eight hits in four innings.
Richards drew a lot of hard contact with the Jays drawing an average exit velocity of 91.8 miles per hour against him. They stung his fastball even more, at 95.9 m.p.h. Richards struck out just two and drew nine whiffs. Cora said the low number of strikeouts isn’t a concern, considering Richards has never been a strikeout pitcher with just 7.8 per nine innings in his career prior to Wednesday. But Cora did allude to something else.
“It’s a matter of how they put the ball in play,” Cora said. “Whether it’s weak contact or hard contact. That’s something that we’ll keep working on. The fact that he’s found the strike zone and that he’s still in the strike zone with good stuff and throwing strikes is always good for us. But at the same time, there’s certain times that we got to put people away and it was inconsistent today in that aspect.”
Richards has a 7.18 ERA in his last nine starts. Opponents have hit .346 in that span. Richards, though, remains encouraged with his stuff.
“I threw some good ones, I threw some bad ones,” Richards said. “Right now, I seem to just get beat hard on my mistakes. So, I’m just continuing to fine tune some stuff. I threw a lot of strikes today and had really good stuff. I just couldn’t keep any runs off the board.”
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 29, 2021 3:22:45 GMT -5
red sox notebook Red Sox get a scare when Rafael Devers leaves Game 2 win with quadriceps injury By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated July 28, 2021, 8:27 p.m.
The Red Sox salvaged a split of their doubleheader against the Blue Jays on Wednesday, winning the nightcap, 4-1, after dropping the opener by the same score. But Sox fans got a scare during that second contest when Rafael Devers left the game in the top of the sixth inning with what the team described as left quad tightness.
Manager Alex Cora said he doesn’t think it will be an issue for moving forward for Devers, who was already scheduled to sit out Thursday’s series finale prior to his injury.
“He feels a little bit tight,” Cora said. “I told him, ‘You don’t have to [push it]. I mean, you got the day off tomorrow. So we’ll take care of it.’ ”
Cora said Devers felt his quad grab after his double in the fourth.
“We’re not going to take any chances,” Cora said.
The hope is for him to be ready Friday for the start of the series with the Rays.
Dalbec running out of time to contribute?
Bobby Dalbec will get a lot of chances at the plate this week. As the Red Sox continue to face lefthanded pitchers, manager Alex Cora said that Dalbec will see a lot of playing time. This could be Dalbec’s chance to finally show whether he can play a part in this team’s playoff push.
It could be his final one.
With the trade deadline looming, it’s no secret the Sox have a significant hole at first base. Much of that is due to Dalbec’s lack of production. It’s why the Red Sox have been linked to Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo. After high hopes coming into this year, Dalbec hasn’t produced and a demotion to Triple A Worcester might benefit him.
In 264 plate appearances leading into the second game of the doubleheader with the Blue Jays, Dalbec was hitting .216/.260/.394 with 10 homers.
Dalbec negotiated a walk in the Sox’ 4-1 Game 1 loss but he was also 0 for 2 with two strikeouts. It was Dalbec’s first walk since June 23, and fourth since June 6. He was 0 for 3 with two strikeouts in the nightcap.
Cora said last week he was surprised by Dalbec’s lack of walks and reiterated that Wednesday morning.
“Here’s a guy that when we had him in spring training in 2019, he was controlling the strike zone,” Cora said. “We knew about the swing and misses, but he had good takes, quality takes, good swing decisions. I think sometimes he’s getting caught up on the result instead of the process.”
Dalbec’s struggles aren’t unusual for a rookie — especially once opponents get enough data to build a scouting report. That has been the case with Dalbec, whose OPS hasn’t been above .700 since April 23.
The Red Sox have given up on him being an everyday player this year, matching him strictly against lefties. Before the second game of the doubleheader, Dalbec hit .262 against lefties vs. just .186 against righthanders.
He’s been solid defensively, particularly for a player who came up as third baseman, but the Red Sox need offensive production.
“Hopefully he gets into a groove in a few balls in the air and give us a chance to win,” Cora said. Brasier makes progress
Ryan Brasier has progressed to throwing bullpens. When Brasier might actually return to the fold, however, is still a huge question mark. Brasier took a comebacker off his head early last month in Fort Myers while working his way back from a calf strain. While Brasier intimated recently that his progression has been promising, the physical, Cora noted, won’t be Brasier’s only hurdle. There’s a mental piece to it, as well. “How he reacts to hitters, that’s going to be very important,” Cora said. “Is he going to be able to finish pitches and stay in there? There are other elements, not only physical, that he has to go through and hopefully at one point during the season, he is going to contribute.” . . . Marwin Gonzalez (right hamstring strain) ran the bases and felt good. Cora said there’s a good chance Gonzalez will begin a rehab assignment this weekend . . . Xander Bogaerts was in the lineup for the first time since Sunday after dealing with a wrist issue. He went 1 for 3 with a strikeout in Game 2.
|
|